All terrain vehicle

Abstract

An all terrain vehicle includes a vehicle frame having lower arms and upper arms for suspending front wheels, the upper arms positioned above the lower arms, drive shafts arranged between the lower arms and the upper arms for conveying drive power from a front wheel differential unit to the front wheels, and shock absorbers including lower ends connected to the lower arms and upper ends connected to the vehicle frame. The shock absorbers are arranged further to the front than the upper arms so as to shorten the front portion of the vehicle frame.

1. An all terrain vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame including lower arms and upper arms for suspending front wheels, each of the lower arms including a first portion connected to the vehicle frame and a second portion connected to a front wheel, the first portion extending generally horizontally from the vehicle frame and the second portion extending obliquely downward from the first portion to the front wheel; 
 drive shafts arranged between the lower arms and the upper arms and to convey drive power to the front wheels; and 
 shock absorbers each having a lower end connected to an inclined portion of the second portion of the lower arms and an upper end connected to the vehicle frame; wherein 
 the shock absorbers are arranged in front of the upper arms in the vehicle travel direction; 
 attachment brackets are joined to each of the lower arms in a range covering at least a portion of the inclined portion of the second portion and at least a portion of the first portion, and the lower ends of the shock absorbers are connected to the attachment brackets; and 
 the lower end of each shock absorber is positioned lower than a top end of the first portion of each lower arm. 
 
   
   
     2. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the upper arms includes an upper front arm portion arranged behind the shock absorber, and an upper back arm portion arranged behind the upper front arm portion and connected to the upper front arm portion adjacent the front wheel. 
   
   
     3. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein each of the upper front arm portions includes a mid portion arranged behind the shock absorber and bent forward so that at least one end of the upper front arm portion is positioned further forward in the vehicle travel direction than the mid portion. 
   
   
     4. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lower arms includes a lower front arm portion and a lower back arm portion arranged behind the lower front arm portion and connected to the lower front arm portion adjacent the front wheel, wherein lower ends of the shock absorbers are connected to the lower front arm portions. 
   
   
     5. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the lower front arm portions are thicker than the lower back arm portions. 
   
   
     6. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of each of the lower front arm portions is supported by a pivot shaft supported by the vehicle frame, the first portion of the lower front arm portions extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot shaft. 
   
   
     7. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the first portions of the lower front arm portions extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vehicle frame. 
   
   
     8. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein each of the shock absorbers is arranged in a vertical plane including the lower front arm portion. 
   
   
     9. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein each of the lower front arm portions is bent so that an end of the second portion of the lower front arm portion adjacent the front wheel is positioned lower than a mid portion. 
   
   
     10. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein each of the lower front arm portions extends outward in a vehicle width direction and is bent downwards at a bent portion between the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
     11. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle frame includes a front pipe portion extending upwards from a lower pipe portion of the vehicle, wherein upper ends of the shock absorbers are connected to the front pipe portion. 
   
   
     12. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inclined portions of the second portions of the lower front arm portions are substantially linear.